The power of the telephone: feminism, sports and social change

This blog post is part of my ongoing weekly series discussing the role of social media and female athletics.

I’ve been blogging the past couple of weeks about social media and its impact upon women in sport – mainly due to my own personal interests but also to fulfill a class requirement. This week, I’m compelled to change it up a little big and bring us back to a time before the Internet and social media, a time when we relied upon the telephone. Why? Because I am beginning to realize it’s just still as “social” as any other media utilized today.

I’m going to take you back to a time that I can only imagine (because I wasn’t alive). Let’s think about the 19760′s and 1970′s, a time when our foresisters (female equivalent of forefathers) organized and fought for an equal playing field as it relates to gender and sport.

Let’s think of people like Bernice Sandler, a part-time lecturer at the University of Maryland, and Rep. Martha Griffiths (D-Michigan), Rep. Edith Green (D-Ohio), researchers like Vivian Acosta and Linda Jean Carpenter, and athletes like Billie Jean King who started coming together at the grassroots level to create change. For the sake of this post, let’s call these women “feminists.” (but I don’t want to label anyone)

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, during that time, there existed a combination of, “the modern feminist movement, a youth culture, and other sources of social unrest.” And these are women who did something about it.

Read more

Female athletes head to college and beyond

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Blogs With Balls: Female sports community ignored, again

If you’re familiar with the mammoth multi-billion dollar male sports blogging scene, you’ve probably heard of A.J. Daulerio of Deadspin, Spencer Hall of The Sporting Blog or Dan Kellyand of the Bleacher Report.

Chances are, if you know these guys, you also know about Blogs With Balls. Why? Because they’re panelists. And chances are, (forgive me for stereotyping)… you’re a guy.

The first of its kind, Blogs With Balls is a an event occuring in New York City this Saturday, June 13. Sponsored by Yardbarker, this event will bring together some of the biggest names in the sports blogosphere for a one-day discussion on the space.

Topics include the future of sports media, leveraging social media, claiming earned media, the secret of success, content networks, financial return, and sports journalist vs. blogger.

While these topics are great ones and people in the industry would (and should) gain value from attending the event, I must point out that there is one serious problem. And if it is not addressed now, I fear that it never will be.

While some of the speakers on the agenda do include women, many of these ladies either work in the male sports industry or blog about completely men’s sports. Only one of the panelists actively blogs about women, and that’s Sarah Braesch, who, only as of a few nights ago, became an advisor to WomenTalkSports.com.

It is incredibly obvious that the female sports blogging community (yes, there is one) is seriously under-represented at this “sports blogging event.” In my opinion, if you’re going to use a gender-neutral term like “sports,” you had better include the other gender’s interests and not force us to live in a separate world. This is not only a common, significant oversight, but a dumb one, too.

As far as I know,  WomenTalkSports.com is the only network of female sports bloggers (writing completely about women’s sports).

Not one of its founders or bloggers was invited to this event. YardBarker (of which I am a member), HHR MediaGroup and every single panel moderator (including Matt Ufford, With Leather.com, Michael Tunison, KissingSuzyKolber.com, Dan Shanoff, DanShanoff.com, Sporting News, Matt Sebek, JoeSportsFan.com Dan Levy, On the DL Podcast) either did not realize this problem or chose to ignore it.

If you’re a female sports blogger, the very name of the event, Blogs With Balls, should – on some level – piss you off. Do you really think women are welcome or taken seriously at such an event? It’s not exactly welcoming for the gender that doesn’t (physically) have balls.

So I must ask those in the male sports industry – what do we need to do to be welcomed? This points to an even bigger quesiton – what do female athletes themselves need to do to be welcomed in traditional media coverage of sports (that doesn’t involve taking off clothes)? This, for example, would make a great debate topic for a panel this weekend.

Why were we excluded? Here’s my take – because that’s where the money is.  As I mentioned earlier in this post, male sports a multi-billion dollar industry. To date, the female sports industry is not at that level. Until women sports bloggers are recognized as part of a bigger, more diverse “sports community,” we will continue to rest in the shadows of our male counterparts.

I didn’t write about this topic because I hate men (I actually love them). I blog because I hope the opportunity to join this community is possible.

Until then, I’ll rest on Saturday knowing that Sarah will be there talking for me, and maybe next year, I’ll get the invite.

(Video) Christiane Amanpour on the importance of women in sport

Below is a video – created and distributed by the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) – of Christiane Amanpour, CNN Chief International Correspondent, on the importance of sport in the lives of women and girls.

It is vitally important that those in the public eye who support women’s sports continue to participate in opportunities such as these, regardless of how much/little they’re paid for doing so.

Props to WSF for making this video available and embeddable. I found this on WSF’s Facebook Fan Page. They’ve got some great content up there – highly recommend you promote it within your network. They also have a Cause Page – great way to recruit friends as engaged advocates. Enjoy!

Videos from my first WNBA Draft

Over the next two days, Sarah from Blogher and Draft Day Suit will video blogging with me during our journey to the WNBA Draft. Tune in for more. Looking forward to this!

Women Talk Sports Blogderby: Round 1

Intro: Welcome to the very first Women Talk Sports (WTS) Blogderby, Round 1.

Every few weeks, we will “pass the torch” to a different blogger in our community who will be responsible for rounding up the best blog posts about women’s sports.

If you’re interested in accepting the torch someday, contact us and we’ll put you on the schedule. Jane from Pretty Tough will be posting Round 2 of the Blogderby on Saturday, March 7. Archives of the Blogderby will be located at Women Talk Sports. Thanks, and go female athletes!

In women’s basketball news, we learned that Lisa Leslie is now retiring form the WNBA. Lyndsey D’Arcangelo from B5 Media’s Girls Dig Sports reports on the story. Certainly sad to see her go.

ESPN columnist Mechelle Voepel discussed (on her personal blog) how Iowa State’s “super fan” Wild Bill Yungclas has decided to retire. Her perspective on super fans is quite unique – as she mentioned she’s a reporter – someone who doesn’t have the “emotional investment” in teams.

In tennis news, Ken from After Atlanta discusses Shaheer Peer’s denial into the United Arab Emirates to play a tournament. Peer was supposed to play in Dubai at the Barclay’s Dubai Championships, but the UAE would not grant Peer, who is Israeli, a visa. Will be interesting to see how this develops. Women Who Serve also wrote about this issue.

Track Mom posted about how Angela Williams has become a youth track & field icon.

Nolachick from Chicks In The Huddle gives us a little reminder of who they are – true fans of the game of football.

Soccer fan Jennifer Doyle at From a Left Wing recently discussed some research behind finding a balance between runner’s high and overtraining syndrome, a form of athletic depression.

Erin Buzuvis from the Title IX Blog discussed an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education which suggests there will be increased Title IX reinforcement under the Obama Aministration. Would be great to see that happen!

Gamechangers launched a “Beat the BS” video. Gretchen from Girls Can’t What calls it a “fantastic promotional video.”

Similarly, Rob Mars from the Athletic Women Blog said “Sometimes the best way to demonstrate the absurdity of a baseless viewpoint is to give it an unfiltered airing, a tactic used here to great advantage.”

Apryl Delancey at Women Like Sports also posted the video with little commentary, but it looks like she’s supportive. I have a different point of view about this video (I think it just reinforces what everybody already knows). But props to Nike and Ashoka for reaching out to the blogosphere community! (below is the video)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhhinmLurOM

Talking about a different campaign – Jane from Pretty Tough tells us how we can star in Adidas new “Me, Myself” campaign, which seeks to find the “new face” of Adidas.

Chris Grant from Jetty Girl took five minutes to interview Tammy-Lee Smith, the surfing professional from South Africa. We learned that her “perfect day” is one where she’s surfing in her hometown, followed up by “flow riding session and skate sessions.”

Char from Sports Girls Play posted a video of Alicia Sacramone interviewing Dwyane Wade, Jordin Sparks, hip hop star Common and Alonzo Mourning in conjunction with the NBA All Star weekend and Gatorade’s Quest for G. Interesting to see how Alicia is making a name for herself outside of being an incredible Olympic gymnast (and knocking guys out at parties).

Ann Gaffigan at Steeple Chics discussed whether there will be gender equality at the 2012 Olympics in London. As a finalist in the Olympic qualifiers for the steeplechase, Ann has the authority to say, “[There are] 40 more events are offered for the men than the women at the Olympics? That’s 120 medals the women are not allowed to chase.”

Black Tennis Pros posted a great interview between tennis star Ahsha Rolle and USTA.com. We learned that her role models growing up were Serena and Venus Williams, as well as Lori McNeil.

Lara from Running in the Bike Lane discussed how caffeine can help post workout recovery. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I could down a cup of coffee after running 3 miles.

Helen at the Women’s Hoops Blog announced that the high school women’s basketball McDonald’s All Americans have been announced. Unsurprisingly, Brittney Griner, the high school dunking phenom, will represent the East.

Marie Hardin from Sports, Media and Society discusses how Alex Rodriguez called Selena Roberts “this lady” throughout an interview with Peter Gammons on ESPN. Hardin said he was “lobbed slow-pitch softballs instead of probing questions.”

Sara from Rock Climber Girl discussed trading injury rehab and treatment tips with fellow climbing blogger friends, including Tom, Narc, and Jon.

Patricia from Right Fielders wrote about Sarah Blewden, a former model turned amateur boxer in Great Britain.

Pat Griffin from the LGBT Sport Blog wrote about how Brooke Heike, a former basketball player at Central Michigan State University, has filed a lawsuit against CMU coach Sue Guevara for benching her and revoking her scholarship because she wore make up and because she was not a lesbian. Griffin said these allegations are “wildly improbable” because lesbian coaches do not want to call attention to their sexual orientation, as they’re afraid they will be targeted by negative recruiting.

Drag racer Erica at Horsepower & Heels discusses the significance behind signature Black & Pink racecar paint jobs.

Kim from Total Female Hockey wrote about why it’s important for girls to play multiple sports.

Hanne Lyngstad recently switched her blog, I Run Therefore I Blog, to English and wrote about sports bras.

Sheila Weaver from She Loves Sports talks about why fewer women are coaching in sports.

If you’re interested in accepting the Blogderby torch someday, contact us and we’ll put you on the schedule. Jane from Pretty Tough will be posting Round 2 of the Blogderby on Saturday, March 7. Archives of the Blogderby will be located at Women Talk Sports.

Also, if you’re a women’s sports blogger and would like to join the WTS community, please contact us.

Rusty Kanokogi, “Mother of Judo,” continues to fight at 73

I just got done reading this excellent piece in the New York Times about Rusty Kanokogi, a Judo icon, who has spent her life lobbying for women’s judo to become an Olympic sport. Now she’s battling a new problem: her health.

Diagnosed with kidney failure and multiple myeloma (rare blood disorder), Kanokogi is 73 years old and still fighting.

I have to admit – I’m not really that familiar with Judo, what it is, or why people even choose to fight.

Judoinfo.com says the sport is a refinement of the ancient martial art of Jujutsu. Specifically, they say:

[Judo] is best known for it’s spectacular throwing techniques but also involves considerable grappling on the ground utilizing specialized pins, control holds, arm locks, and Judo choking techniques. Judo emphasizes safety, and full physical activity for top conditioning. Judo is learned on special mats for comfort and safety.

Judo is unique in that all age groups, both sexes, and most disabled persons can participate together in learning and practicing the sport.

Here’s a YouTube video of the 2008 Judo games in Beijing, where Telma Monteiro (Portugal – white) competes against Anna Kharitonova (Russia – Blue), to give you an idea of how the sport works:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqvWwLJtSio

Anyway, back to the NY Times article on Rusty Kanokogi.

Her real name is Rena Glickman and she’s from Brooklyn. She learned judo from a man in her neighborhood who had picked it up in the military.

She joined the YMCA and competed in the championships, named Rusty Glickman, a nickname that means “stray dog,” indicative of how women were not explicitly barred from the YMCA championships, but it was certainly unusual for her to be there. So she cut her hair short, taped her breasts down and tried to disguise herself as a boy.

She won the final bout. Her coach asked her if she was a girl, and she nodded yes.

“Had I said no,” she said, “I don’t think women’s judo would have been in the Olympics. It instilled a feeling in me that no woman should have to go through this again.”

She then moved to  Japan to study at the Kodokan, the sport’s spiritual home in Tokyo. She returned as one of the top female judo competitors.

Her next step – she said, was,  “I took responsibility.” So she started lobbying, started making noise, and kept pushing.

In 1980, Kanokogi mortgaged her house to help finance the first women’s judo world championships, at Madison Square Garden.

By the early 1980s, Kanokogi had women’s judo made an exhibition sport for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and gained medal status for the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Today, she refuses to call herself a feminist – which I think is ridiculous.

It’s clear to me that she defines what feminism is for women in sports. She took responsibility for her sport and its state and created change, something that has positively impacted generations upon generations after her – something that “feminists” have done and should continue to do.

I wish her the best of luck as she battles her current health problems. And I find it incredibly inspiring that she still fights today.

Rusty (Rena) – on behalf of a new generation of female athletes, thank you for all that you’ve done.

Webinar: Breaking Down Barriers: NWLC’s Guide to Title IX for Lawyers and Advocates

The National Women’s Law Center is hosting a webinar titled Breading Down Barriers, tomorrow (Thursday) at 1pm EST.

In partnership with the law firm DLA Piper, NWLC will focus upon empowering participants on how to be a resource as a Title IX advocate in your community.

To sign up, click here.

Specifically, the webinar will address:

• How schools can comply with Title IX
• Tips for recognizing Title IX violations
• Step-by-step guidance for addressing Title IX violations in the courts

Thanks again to the folks at NWLC for passing this along to me. If I can tear myself away from my desk, I’ll try to hop on.

Otherwise, I’m told there will be a recording of the session available on the NWLC Web site.

NWLC is one of many organizations committed to promoting women’s participation in sport. This webinar is part of the National Women’s Law Center’s Citi Education Series on Family Economic Security.

Also, for a great post on National Girls and Women in Sports day, check out Womenstake, the NWLC blog (I highly recommend adding it to your feed reader).

Happy Girls and Women’s Sports Day: Look Who’s Playing

I’d like to wish you a happy girls and women’s sports day!

The theme for today is Look Who’s Playing, which shows how athletes who played or are still playing, are making a difference, overcoming difficult circumstances, breaking records and making things possible.

My favorite resource (so far) is this photo gallery which showcases the 35 most memorable moments since Billie Jean King inspired a generation of men and women when she beat Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes. (so inspiring)

If nothing else, the most important thing you can do today is take action. Check out this page from the National Women’s Law Center to encourage your elected officials to pass these two important, bipartisan bills that will make a huge difference in the lives of girls.

On a professional level (correct me if I’m wrong) it looks like the WNBA is taking the lead with support for this day.

Check out the below video about why the WNBA matters, as well as an accompanying letter that I recieved from Donna Orender, the president of the WNBA. Donna, thanks for taking the lead on this.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vkuXg5yxYs&eurl=http://www.womensvoicesforchange.org/2009/02/national-girls-and-women-in-sports-day-why-the-wnba-matters.html&feature=player_embedded

From Donna Orender, President, WNBA:

Tension and passion hung in the air in the final electrifying seconds of Game 2 of the WNBA Western Conference Finals on Sept. 27. In front of a packed home crowd at the AT&T Center, the San Antonio Silver Stars’ Sophia Young hit a 14-foot turnaround jumper at the buzzer to fend off elimination from the Los Angeles Sparks. At this moment, someone leaned over to me and whispered, “You must be so proud of all this.”
It was one of many incredible moments that define our league. At these times, I am grateful for the messages the league delivers to young women that sweat and grit are permissible and to young males that strong and athletic women will populate their future.
The WNBA formed just 12 years ago, and it continues to blaze trails. The markers of success are familiar in the American sports landscape – corporate partnerships, network television broadcasts, the rhythm of a season from training camp to All-Star to playoffs. It’s the trailblazers who are different.

This WNBA is defining what an investment in our female youth can yield.

With these role models before them, young women are playing sports in exponentially increasing numbers. The health benefits of this participation have been well documented: the lowering of heart disease and cancers, and the rise in self-esteem and school performance. Far less commonly recited, however, are the enormous social benefits. Sports is a pervasive cultural presence; its language is the language of business and the currency of status, clearly dominating the hallways and corner offices of the global corporate landscape. Up until now, women have been largely sidelined, kept away from the enormous profits and other considerable benefits that being a valued member of this sports society generate. The WBNA says to young women that they can earn a seat at this table by showing them that they’re invited to dinner in the first place.
Our league sits uniquely at the crossroads of Main Street USA, with an atmosphere and accessibility that encourage families to gather for a game that speaks to America’s values and work ethic. In a day and age when community leaders, politicians and parents simply ask for positive role models for their children, we find one right in front of us: the WNBA, a league where teamwork and hard work are prized, and athletes’ raw passion to play and compete are front and center from opening tip to closing buzzer.

After 12 years, the WNBA deserves more credit and more importantly, greater support for its considerable accomplishments. By just existing, it continues to encourage significant numbers of young women to compete, compete in all fields of endeavor.

Our fans have responded to the high level of play by pushing increased attendance, TV ratings, Web traffic and merchandise sales. These women are spreading this work ethic and universal language around the world – note the 41 current-and-former WNBA players on Olympic rosters in Beijing, including the 12 members of Team USA who brought home their fourth consecutive gold medal.

Progress has been made and yet for all of us who are involved with girls and women’s sports, the gap is still wide and perceptions still slow to change. In a world that is turning upside down and inside out as we try to buckle our seat belts, my hope is that the shift in the earth’s tectonic plates helps us collectively recognize and actively support change.

If you have a daughter, a sister or a niece, then you fully understand the desire for her to have full access to all that is possible for her. Sports is a huge gateway. The WNBA is an iconic brand that is the most visible means of providing very positive imagery and role models who support all of her hopes and dreams and possibilities. Further, it provides major league sports entertainment rooted in value and values. Wow, life’s lessons are on sale, front and center, and at a great price.

The question we have to ask ourselves – are we willing to pay the price to keep the momentum going? As the women’s game continues to explode and play happens both below and above the rim, the drama of winning and losing are decisions that we effect each time we choose to support our young women with our time, attention and financial resources. Please choose wisely. I would tell you that the price for us to not support the WNBA and our young girls’ physical and spiritual development through sports is a very costly one.

The mission for the league is to lead, to inspire and to create change. It’s a rallying call every day. For me, it is both a professional and personal calling. It is about making a positive difference, which is everyone’s self-interest. The wonder of sports is that it is a place where passion rules and where fun and games form a solid foundation for winning, winning in the most important game, in the game of life.

Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day!

Mascots and Masculinity

So the idea from this blog came in response to a previous post that got me thinking.  I have been on teams that have used the term “Lady” in front of our schools mascot in order to somehow feminize our image.  Although this argument may seem trivial or like a small issue, it is important for women to start realizing these examples are preventing women from truly being seen as equals in the sports arena. 

According to the Handbook of Sociology of Gender, more than 50% of 4-year colleges in the United States use sexist names for women’s teams, such as adding “Lady” to the mascot name, adding the suffix “ette” (Yellow Jackettes or Thorobrettes), or using a diminutive version of the mascot for women’s teams (Kittens or Belles).

In my opinion, we are feeding into stereotypes of women, by altering a mascot name in any of the aforementioned ways, to pertain to a women’s sports team.  Why does the mascot have to have any gender at all?  Why is the default gender male?  Does it make a difference if the hawk, bulldog, lion, professor, volunteer, cardinal, etc. is a male or a female?  Does the gender predict how we act when participating?  God forbid men are forced to compete with a female mascot, therefore all mascots must be inherently male.  As female athletes we should want to embody the same ferocious and competitive characteristics as our male counterparts.  What are we gaining by feminizing the mascot?  Do I want to be described as lady-like on the court, field, in the pool, inside the batters box? 

Obviously I do not want to get off topic, but something that just came to mind, “you throw like a girl.”  Well, #1 – I am a girl, and #2 – why is that a bad thing?  Why do these stereotypes still exist, and why, as women, are we contributing to this image? 

In my research I found two noteworthy articles relating to this topic, “We’re not bitches, we’re Bulldogs,” and “‘Lady’ Interrupted.”  Both articles use the Lady Vols as an example, and I cannot think of a better one.  Now, you don’t need to follow Women’s Basketball or even watch SportsCenter to know that the Lady Vols are one of the most known icons in Women’s College Basketball.  They are a FORCE, from all-time winningest college basketball coach, Pat Summitt, to first pick in the WNBA draft Candace Parker.  The Lady Vols have won 8 National Championship titles and have competed in every single NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball tournament since the NCAA began sanctioning the sport in 1981.  I don’t know many men that would argue the toughness that these ladies show on the court day in and day out.  I might go as far to say that the Lady Vols could compete with numerous men’s college basketball programs.  Why do we need to feminize their mascot?  The term lady is used to describe a women who is refined and polite.  I can assure you that the Lady Vols are not worried about being refined and polite on the basketball court.  Nor should any other female student-athlete be portrayed as refined and polite while competing in their respective sport.  And we, as a society, need to realize there is nothing wrong with female athletes WANTING to be competitive, ferocious, intimidating, strong, and powerful. 

In 2007, C. Vivian Stringer and Pat Summitt shared their conflicting opinions on this topic.  Summitt’s stance, “That Lady Vols logo is known throughout the country and throughout the world, I just can’t see that changing.”  Stringer’s viewpoint, “basketball is basketball, and you don’t need to make a distinction.”  The times are evident, and it’s time WE make a change!

“Game Changers:” Nike’s innovative social movement for women in sports

I came across a great contest this week… an online social movement for women in sports.

The campaign is called “Game Changers” and asks participants to identify the most innovative solutions to the challenges facing women in sport today.

Between November 12, 2008 and February 11, 2009, Game Changers is inviting anyone and everyone to propose a way to leverage sport for positive social change in the lives of girls and women. The criteria is based upon innovation, social impact and sustainability.

The prize: “15.000 Euros will be awarded as part of a one year fellowship contract with Women Win to a person associated with a programme or initiative that positively changes the lives of women and girls in their community through sport.”

The judging panel includes Amy Wambach from (U.S. Women’s Soccer), Jil Ker Conway (director of Colgate-Palmolive Co., and Nike, Inc), Sheila C. Johnson (only African-American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams), Lombe Mwambwa (National Organisation of Women in Sport, the National Sports Council of Zambia) and Tanni Grey-Thompson ( Paralympics medalist). Love the selection!

I have to give serious props to Nike and Ashoka for sponsoring this. I think it’s a great idea. If you’re not familiar with Ashoka, they’re the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs—men and women with system changing solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems.

However, I have to say – I’m a bit disappointed that there are only 220 nominations and 55 entries to date. Where is everyone? This is an international competition!

Also, where’s the outreach to female sports bloggers? I haven’t seen anything in the media about this. If we’re trying to make social change, people need to know about it, right? There are plenty of bloggers in our community who would support this.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUo13iX03N8&eurl=http://sportforchange.changemakers.net/en-us&feature=player_embedded

Regardless, as I said, this is a great competition and addresses a problem that is not often discussed in society. Also, it’s important to note that Nike has made incredible contributions on social change as it relates to sport. For example, the Let Me Play campaign (and site) are highly effective in raising awareness for social change as it relates to gender, socioeconomic status, global warming. The site features interactive video and incredible stories from “Game Changers” around the world.

But the Game Changers contest for female athletes is particularly significant, given a historically consistent lack of opportunity internationally. This is a cause that female athletes and organizations around the world should support and participate in.

I checked out the entries so far, and I was really impressed with what’s going on. Here are some of my favorites:

SACRENA Teenage Mothers Soccer Academy (Kenya) – Teenage mothers both in and out schools play soccer league,develop transitional period to play from grassroots,national team to world cup for change.
Ballin’ Divas on the Move (U.S.) – Our goal is to help school-age girls to develop self-esteem, curb drug and alcohol abuse, prevent teen pregnancy and ensure high school graduation and admission into college. Our emphasis is teaching life skills and we do it through amateur sports including basketball and other sports like volleyball, softball, karate, dance,…etc in the future

BoxGirls (Cameron) - Boxing improves girls’ strength and resilience and allows them to better negotiate the urban environment. Boxgirls train as a team to face individual challeneges alone. The skills they learn in the ring bring them further in their schooling, family and career.

Like I said… very cool! I hope to see many more entries in the coming months, and I highly encourage those reading this to post about this contest, enter it, discuss it and promote it.

Athletes creating “sites to behold”: new technologies, gender disparities

I came across an interesting blog post by Marie Hardin from Sports, Media and Society last week. In this post, Marie points to an article in the San Diego Tribune which discusses how athletes are using the Internet to take control over their brands.

In this article, the author (Tod Leonard) excellently wrote about how high-profile athletes have embraced the Web as a way to connect with fans and raise their profiles.

Key takeaways: It’s up to the athletes themselves to 1) make the investment and 2) decide how they want to be branded. Subversively, it’s evident that men and women are portrayed differently.

Leonard said,

“In this age when millions of facts are literally available in the palm of our hands, when baseball games can be followed pitch-by-pitch on a computer and football highlights are enjoyed on your phone, top-level athletes and coaches are only beginning to scratch the surface of the Internet’s potential for their career and their lives.”

He’s completely and totally right. As long as that comment is kept to male sports.

Unfortunately, there’s a discrepancy on how male and female athletes are portrayed on the Web, and this article by Leonard is proof that it’s happening.

In the up-front of this article, Leonard mentioned how Tiger Woods – upon learning he had to undergo knee surgery – decided to break the news on his Web site, where bloggers (not surprisingly) picked upon the information and began spreading it faster than the speed of light.

He mentioned his love for Adrian Gonzalez (who blogs regularly) and golfer Pat Perez (whose site “rocks”), and criticized stars like quarterback Philip Rivers for “being quiet” and golfer Phil Mickelson, whose site “just lays there.”

Leonard said there are athletes “who get it” and athletes “who don’t.”

But where it really gets interesting – and credit needs to go to Marie Hardin for pointing this out – is the difference between the sites of male and female athletes. Unfortunately, the sites of females are tending to reinforce some traditional stereotypes about women.

Women’s sites are emphasizing a certain superfluous material and sex appeal – two items that are absent on sites of men (shocker).

In an age where digital communication is on the brink of taking over print media, the athletic industries need to decide how to brand female athletes so that they’re taken seriously.

And at a time when the athletes themselves have control over how their branded, it is their responsibility to demand to be taken seriously.

Women who are leading this movement – individuals like Maria Sharapova and Danica Patrick – are taking the opposite approach, and it’s not leading to a good online presence.

Here’s what Leonard said about race car driver Danica Patrick’s site:

“Take a look at the opening page of the site of IRL driver Danica Patrick (danicapatrick.com), and the racing helmet on her hip is barely noticeable because she’s wearing a sexy, light blue dress with a plunging neckline. There’s a reason for that.”

“The new site is based more on fashion and real life,” said Patrick’s father, T.J., who runs her business affairs. “People know about her racing now. They need to see her as a fashion person. She’s very up on fashion, and we like to promote the regular Danica. Eventually, she won’t be racing and we still have to keep going.”

But why does she need to see her as a fashion person? Is that really the only way they can draw fans? Doesn’t that emphasis demean her achievements as an athlete who has broken gender barriers in a masculine sport?

I mean, yes, she’s beautiful, and she knows how to dress well, but that’s not why she’s famous. She’s famous because she kicks ass at race car driving.

Right now, Patrick’s site gets 1 million visits per year and features the music of up-and-coming female artists and as many red-carpet glamour shots as racing photos.

I think she can do much, much better.

Another example is that of Michellie Jones, “a personable Aussie triathlete” who is “all about the whimsy of the blog.” Leonard mentions that she compulsively takes photos from her iPhone and posts them on her site (gomichellie.com), “no matter how wacky.”

“If I giggle at them, maybe other people will too,” Jones said.

The blogs read like letters to her dearest friends, complete with run-on sentences and bad punctuation.

“Blogs have made it more personal,” Jones said. “People feel like they can connect with you. Some of my blogs are better than others, but if it makes somebody laugh, and if they can relate to you in some way, then you’ve reached the purpose the site was intended for.”

Now, take a look at how the two female athletes were portrayed in this article and then compare it to how Tiger Woods and others were discussed.

Female athletes = sex objects who are superficial and not serious.

Male athletes = cutting edge sports stars who “get it” when it comes to technological advances.

It’s important that this is addressed early in the game before it’s too late.

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